Jon Jones has reportedly requested a 10-figure pay to return to the octagon to face Tom Aspinall, and again a big number for a potential heavyweight clash with Alex Pereira in 2026, but neither appear to be happening. For UFC veteran Jorge Masvidal, that’s unfair.
Masvidal released a video on his Youtube channel where he debates the public discussion between Jones and Dana White. The UFC CEO recently said they “never” considered Jones for the White House card on June 14 and it would be “very fair”
to consider him retired, and Jones followed it up by requesting his UFC release.
Masvidal called Jones “one of the best fighters ever” and sided with him when it comes to a fair pay.
“You want to see the guy get paid,” Masvidal said. “But at the same time, there has been inconsistencies with Jon in the past and Dana, Jon having to pull out of fights and things like that for different reasons. So you can’t blame the UFC. It’s a business. They got to put the guys that they feel are going to sell the most tickets and be the most reliable.
“I just feel like, as a fighter, I hope it’s not a money issue. I don’t know what the real underlying issue is. I heard different things. If it’s because they don’t want to pay Jon, that’s some shit to me, right? Like who does deserve a paycheck? Because out of Dana White’s own mouth, Jon Jones is one of the best fighters that ever lived. So if the best fighter that ever lived ain’t getting paid what he deserves, who is?”
Masvidal said he understands the UFC being hesitant to giving Jones a spot on the White House event with a history of fight cancellations, with Pereira instead getting booked for that event against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt as Tom Aspinall recovers from double eye injury. At the same time, however, Masvidal feels that the promotion should find another date and location for what could end up being Jones’ final MMA bout.
“Put him in a big fight. Let’s use him,” Masvidal said. “I know obviously Jon has injuries now that have come to light and people are saying this and people are saying that, but it’s still Jon Jones, man. When the lights turn on and that cage door closes, he turns into a fucking winner. That’s what he does, he wins.”
“I want to see Jon Jones in there, but not just against anybody,” he continued. “I want to see him against the biggest, baddest, best heavyweight possible. And let’s make that fight happen. Let’s give Jon Jones a paycheck he deserves before he he rides out into the sunset. I think he’s hinting at a couple of times about retirement. I just hope they can get the man what he deserves, you know?”
